Spitfire P7154

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Aircraft Type Photo

BELOW: Supermarine Spitfire XVI at Duxford, September 2006.

spitfire mk xvi at duxford in september 2006

Photo: 2006 Taken by Chowells, Noise reduction and shadows lifted by Diliff. Original image here

Licensed for use under Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 2.5

Aircraft Type and Background

RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk I / R7154

Aircraft Type Nickname: "The Spit".

Designed by R J Mitchell, the elliptical-winged Supermarine Spitfire was one of the most capable and effective fighters of WWII. It was produced in a number of variants, and with different power plants and armaments. The Spitfire was considered a high performing, agile and stable fighter platform. Ultimately, 20,000 Spitfires and Sea Spitfires (or 'Seafires'; the naval variant) were produced.

The Spitfire first entered service with the RAF at Duxford in August, 1938, and many subsequent variants were produced.

During the Battle of Britain, Mk I Spitfires were outnumbered by Hawker Hurricanes. Nevertheless, the Spitfires were usually considered as the most deadly aircraft in the skies above Britain.

The Mark I Spitfire featured here was equipped with a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. (Griffon engines were fitted to later Marks.)

BELOW: RAF Spitfires in flight

raf spitfires in flight

Photo: As a work of the U.S. Federal Government, the image is in the public domain.

Aircraft Accident Details

Spitfire R7154 was being operated by 124 Squadron RAF. While on a flight over the north-west of Scotland, close to Cape Wrath, the engine failed. The pilot force-landed the Spitfire on the beach at Sandwood Bay.

The aircraft was lost in the incident, but fortunately the pilot escaped serious injury.

This aircraft was one of the Presentation Spitfires paid for by voluntary contributions from people throughout many UK towns and villages.

Aircraft Pilot

The pilot who escaped in this incident was:

Sgt Kilburn

Crash Site Photos

At the moment, there are no onsite photos of this aircraft. However, photos of the propeller blade and engine fragments can be seen at Adrian Wain's website here, here and here

Photo Request

If anyone is able to provide photos of this crash site at Sandwood Bay, these would be much appreciated.

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Crash Date / Site

Accident Date: 30 Sep 1941

(Struck of Charge: 30 Mar 1942)

Accident Site:

Sandwood Bay

Region: Highland (Caithness / North-West Sutherland)

Nearest town or village:

Kinlochbervie

Nearest large town:

None in this general area. Nearest available: Tongue (E)

OS Grid Ref: N/A

GPS Ref. N/A

Present Condition: Fragmented propeller and engine parts appear occasionally from beneath the sand, depending on tidal conditions. etc. For much of the time, however, these fragments lie hidden from view.